Chitt's chats

Photographs by the late National Artist Chitt Chongmankhong will be on display from tomorrow at Thailand Creative and Design Centre.

Chitt, who died in April, was known for his black-and-white images that mixed realism, impressionism and surrealism. He was skilled not just at recording his subjects with an artist's eye, but also at deftly manipulating images in the darkroom.

"My photographs have only three colours: black, white and a bit of grey," he once said. "Black doesn't mean absolute dark and white is not totally white. Monochromatic photography really lets you appreciate the subtle gradation of tones. Capturing images in black-and-white tones is much more difficult than doing so in colourful shades. Also, a black-and-white picture lasts longer than a colour one."

While his images of people's lives are mostly portrayed with realistic perspectives in favour of sincerity and a focus on simple and unidealised treatment, his landscapes are more impressionistic.

TRICK OF THE LIGHT

>> The Chitt Chongmankhong show runs through September 27 at the TCDC on the sixth floor of the Emporium.

 >> Admission is free. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 to 9. Call (02) 664 8448 or visit www.TCDC.or.th.